Laos Escape

Welcome to Laos! Upon arrival,your professional private guide will be ready to welcome you at the arrival hall.You will be transferred to your hotel with a private car and driver.Luang Prabang is a very special city! It enchants with its magnificent location,amidst mountain ranges and historic temples, which gives the city a title of World Heritage Site by UNESCO. 

Get up early to observe the Buddhist Alms Giving Ceremony at 5:40am if you like. You will begin exploring this wonderful town with your guide on a morning bike ride, starting with the local morning market where you can see the locals getting their daily supplies. The tour will continue with visits to the National Museum (closed on Tuesday and Sunday afternoon), Wat Mai and Wat Xieng Thong. Here you'll learn about Lao history and the kingdoms which ruled this place in former times. For lunch our guide will recommend a few great restaurants where you can sample Lao food.

In the afternoon you'll visit Wat Visoun, which dates back to the 16th century, before heading to the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center where you'll gain a deeper understanding of the ethnic diversity in Laos today. After returning the bikes you'll ascend Phousi Mountain to marvel at the sunset over town before descending into the colorfully-lit tents of the Night Market to shop for handmade crafts.

You will begin our journey into the Laos Hinterland, setting out from town on mountain bikes towards the Elephant Village. On your way through the Lao countryside you'll see farmers cultivating the land, forests of teakwood, distant mountain vistas, and the smiles of the locals who are in turn curious about their observers. 

Upon reaching Elephant Village, a beautiful, idyllic place in the center of the magnificent mountain jungle landscape. You'll stop for lunch before begining your elephant experience which will include an introduction to the elephants and their Mahouts (trainers) and an elephant walk.

Later, a boat ride takes you to the cascade of the Tad Sae waterfall where you can take a refreshing swim (waterfall dry  Feb - July). After a short hiking trail in the afternoon, you will meet your host family in a small Laotian hilltribe village. Here you are invited to cook, eat, and converse together until you are ready for bed.

Awakened early by the roosters in the village, you will start your hike through the hilly landscape of Laos. On the trek between Hmong and Khmu hilltribe villages, there is much to see and learn. You will have the unique opportunity to share the cultures of rural life of the Lao as you observe the lifestyles of the Hmong and Khmu. There are many trails to choose from, depending on your stamina - some shorter and others longer.

In the afternoon you will paddle back to Luang Prabang in kayaks along the Nam Khan. Kayaking on this small river is a cool and relaxing way to end these 2 days of adventure. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

The trip to Nong Khiaw takes you from Luang Prabang out into the stunning scenery of northern Laos. Together with locals and other travelers on the bus (public van), you will wind your way through the countryside. The journey takes you into the sparsely populated north of Laos where you can stop to visit the villages and hilltribes along the way.

Upon reaching Nong Khiaw, a town dominated by stunning limestone formations. You will have the opportunity to visit the historical caves which played a major role in the Indochina War. In the evening you'll enjoy the scenery along the river and overnight in Nong Khiaw at a rustic local guesthouse.

Today you will set out on a FairTrek to Ban Na Luang. The FairTrek Initiative aims to give back to local communities and encourage conservation through responsible tourism. By taking part in a FairTrek and homestay you will be giving back to the local villages through the FairTrek Fund whilst enjoying an authentic cultural exchange.

The trek takes around 2-3 hours and is suitable for most levels of fitness. 

In the ethnically diverse village of Ban Na Luang, you can learn about the local traditions and the lifestyle of the local population. The Lao Looum and Lao Soung represent different ethnic minority groups and you can experience the differences while you stay at their homes here for the night.The landscape is dominated by rice fields and stunning rock formations, making this a beautiful natural environment to spend the evening.

Today you'll take a small path to another village where you'll take a short break before you board a traditional boat back to Nong Khiaw on the Nam Ou river, then get on the local bus back to Luang Prabang. 

Today we will welcome you aboard a traditional Laos Slowboat for the trip on the Mekong River into the north of Laos. This majestic river flows  from the Tibetan Plateau through China, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Along the way we take the time to visit the local villages and the famous Pak Ou Caves, which thrills both tourists and devout worshipers with its hundreds of Buddha statues of all styles and sizes. Mekong cruise arrives in Pakbeng in the late afternoon where you'll stay the night.